Love and Secrecy

1 Peter 4:8, “⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of Sins”

Proverbs 16:28, “²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends

Proverbs 17:9, “⁹ He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

When someone asks you what your definition of love what is your answer? Scripture talks about it in many different ways and as we look at the verses God led me to today I want to talk about love as the means of forgiveness and restoration. When we look at Proverbs you will see the wisdom of God in its simplest form. He gives us instruction through Solomon on how we are to love one another when it comes to issues of secrecy. Love provides us the answer. You say, “Secrecy and love?” Well when someone entrusts you with a secret they do it out of the love they have seen in their relationship with them. They feel secure enough and trust you enough to share their hopes, dreams and issues with them. Do not approach that lightly. It is an honor to be trusted and loved that much. The problem is too often we break those trusts because we are not as loyal to those we claim to love as they believe. We can very easily be caught up in the middle of something and have no way to resolve it except to love all those who are involved. As love is shared we allow forgiveness to grow and issues to be laid down and released. Remember that someone sharing a secret with you shows a level and trust that is hard to gain and even harder to restore when we fail to keep things secret that we have been entrusted with.

I do have to put a disclaimer here if the secret you have received involves illegal activity as a Christian we are subject to the laws and authorities that God has appointed over us. The trust that you have between individuals does not override that God has called us to live as a Holy People. There will be and are times we must do what is right in accordance with God’s will and the laws of our country if that requires you to reveal a secret to prevent harm from coming to someone you will need to take a stand. As a minister I am required by law to report certain things I am told even in confidence. Do not take who you entrust your secrets to lightly desire to seek out individuals who you have grown to love and love you equally and you will not have to worry about your secrets. Have a blessed day and may the Lord bless you in all you do.